Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer as total mesometrial resection (L-TMMR): A multicentric experience

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the feasibility of total mesometrial resection by laparoscopy (L-TMMR) in a multicentric series of early stage cervical cancer. METHOD: We prospectively evaluated a consecutive series of cervical cancer patients with pre-operative FIGO stages IA2-IB1 at the Catholic University in Rome and in Campobasso and the Charitè University in Berlin. All cases were assessed at pre-operative MRI scan and clinically confirmed by investigation under anesthesia, adhering strictly to the FIGO criteria. The surgical and post-surgical data were collected. RESULTS: 104 women with cervical cancer were admitted between July 2013 and August 2014 and among them 71 patients with pre-operative FIGO stages IA2-IB1 were treated with L-TMMR. One laparotomic conversion was registered. The median operative time was 260min (120-670min), estimated blood loss was 100cm(3) (25-900cm(3)), and the median length of hospital stay was 6days (2-26days). We observed 8 intra-operative complications including a vascular injury of the left internal iliac vein that caused conversion, 6 vesical injuries and 1 ureteral injury managed laparoscopically. Two vescico-vaginal fistula and one hemoperitoneum were observed as major post-operative complications (4.2%). CONCLUSION: L-TMMR can be safely performed in selected cervical cancer patients. Further larger prospective trials are needed to evaluate the oncological outcome of patients undergoing this surgical procedure.